Anthony Johnson not claiming contender tag just yet, but he won't shy away from label

Anthony Johnson not claiming contender tag just yet, but he won't shy away from label

SAN JOSE – Earlier this year, Anthony Johnson was on the outside of the UFC, his future anything but certain. But after one scintillating UFC win over Phil Davis, “Rumble” looks to be a real contender at 205 pounds – though maybe not according to him.

“I can’t even say contender,” Johnson told MMAjunkie. “I just thought I was better than a lot of guys that were in the top-10. I’ll just put it that way.

“The word contender still hasn’t registered in my head and all that stuff, but I’ll take it if you give it to me. But I think my performance made a statement to everybody out there.”

Oddsmakers have installed Johnson as nearly a 6-to-1 favorite over the 38-year-old Nogueira, who after a myriad of injuries has fought just once in the past two-and-a-half years. After downing a man some considered the division’s No. 1 contender in Davis, it would be easy to understand if Johnson overlooked “Little Nog,” but “Rumble” insists that’s certainly not the case.

“He’s a fighter; I respect that,” Johnson said. “He can end my night with one punch, submission, anything, just like I can do the same thing with him, so I have to go into this fight having respect. I don’t doubt anything that he can bring.”

With a victory, Johnson could put himself in a unique position in the division. After all, he shot up the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings following his last win and now sits at No. 6 in the weight class. Daniel Cormier gets the next shot at the title, and Alexander Gustafsson shouldn’t be far behind. But injuries and odd happenings are a constant in MMA, and Johnson knows a win would put him in an enviable position.

But Johnson has been through this all before at a time he admits he wasn’t nearly as ready for such a role. This time, he isn’t going to let it slide away.

“I know the performance I had with Phil Davis, I have to have an even better performance with ‘Little Nog,'” Johnson said.